PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS, 51'. 



vdves, except in nascent colonies, all the work, as well 

 as the defence of the community, of which they are the 

 most numerous portion. In some societies of ants the 

 workers are of two dimensions. — In the nests of i^. rufa 

 and /?f/t'rt such were observed by Gould, the size of one 

 exceeding that of the other about one-third^. (In my 

 specimens, the large workers of F. rufa are nearly 

 three times, and of F.Jlava twice, the size of the small 

 ones.) All were equally engaged in the labours of the 

 colony. Large workers were also noticed by M. P. Hu- 

 ber in the nests of F. ritfescens^, but he could not ascer- 

 tain their office. 



Having- introduced you to the individuals of which 

 the associations of ants consist, I shall now advert to 

 the principal events of their history, relating first the 

 fates of the males and females. In the warm days that 

 occur from the end of July to the beginning of Septem- 

 ber, and sometimes later, the habitations of the various^ 

 species of ants rnay be seen to swarm with winged in- 

 sects, which are the males and females, preparing to 

 quit for ever the scene of their nativity and education. 

 Every thing is in motion — and the silver wings con* 

 trasted with the jet bodies which compose the animated 

 mass, add a degree ofsplendour to the interesting scene.; 

 The bustle increases, till at length the males rise, as it 



toire Naliirelle de Geneve, a qui nous I'avons fait voir; I'approche du 

 male eloit toujours suivie de la mort de rouvriere ; leur conformation 

 ne pennet done pas qu'elles deviennent meres, mais I'instinct du njkale 

 prouve du moins que ce sent des femelles." ^ Gould, 103. 



^ M. Huber calls this an apterous female ; yet he could not discover 

 that they laid eggs: and he owns that they more nearly resembled the 

 workers than the females ; and that he should have considered them as 

 such, had he seen them mix with them in their excursions. JIuber, p. 251 . 



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